Horizontally pivoting headrest for motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

A headrest assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a headrest pivotable between first and second positions. The first position is generally proximate a seatback, and the second position is generally proximate a side wall.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to headrests for motor vehicleseats, and relates more specifically to a headrest that pivots from aside support bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many motor vehicles, particularly sport utility vehicles, areequipped with rear seats that can be moved from a seating configuration,in which passengers can sit in the seat, to a so-called “load floor”configuration where the back support of the seat is folded downwardly toassume a horizontal orientation and thereby facilitate cargo stowage inthe van. Typically, locking mechanisms are provided for holding the seatin the seating configuration, and the locking mechanisms can be releasedto permit moving the seat to the load floor configuration.

[0003] Various arrangements have been proposed for retracting a headrestof the seat in order to provide the seat with a more compact profilewhen folded. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,940 shows severalembodiments of a seat having an adjusting mechanism for adjusting theheight of a headrest according to the pivoting of a seatback relative toa seat cushion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is a headrest assembly for a motor vehicle.The headrest assembly comprises a headrest pivotable from a firstposition generally proximate a seatback to a second position generallyproximate a side wall.

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea headrest assembly of the type described above that provides supportfor an operator of the motor vehicle.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a headrestassembly of the type described above that facilitates the storage ofrelatively compact rear seats of the motor vehicle.

[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provide anassembly of the type described above which is easy to use andcost-effective.

[0008] These and other features and advantages of the invention willbecome further apparent from the following detailed description of thepresently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merelyillustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of theinvention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headrest assembly according tothe present invention in a first, stowed position; and

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the headrest assembly in a second,use position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a headrest assembly 10 according tothe present invention for a motor vehicle. In particular, the headrestassembly 10 is adapted for use in a vehicle having a roll bar 12extending from a position generally at or near an interior side wall 14and above a seat including a seatback 16.

[0012] The headrest assembly 10 comprises a padded headrest 18 and oneor more preferably tubular supports 20. The supports 20 may be connectedto the headrest 18 in any conventional manner, and extend from theheadrest to one or more mounting brackets 22 which are preferablydisposed proximate the roll bar 12. It should be appreciated that aseparate mounting bracket may be provided for each support 20, or asingle mounting bracket may be provided with accommodations for eachsupport.

[0013] The supports 20 extend in a generally horizontal plane, while themounting brackets 22 define a generally vertical axis about which thesupports are pivotable. The headrest 18 is thus pivotable about themounting brackets 22 from a first, stowed position shown in FIG. 1 to asecond, use position shown in FIG. 2. In the use position, the headrest18 is disposed generally proximate the seatback 16 and normally spacedthereabove.

[0014]FIG. 2 shows the headrest 18 in the use position. In thisposition, the headrest 18 is disposed generally proximate the side wall14 of the motor vehicle. A latching bar 24 is preferably connected tothe lower support 20 so as to move therewith. The latching bar 24 isselectively engagable with a latch 26 to secure the headrest 18 in theuse position. A detent 28 provides is engagable with the latching bar 24to perform a similar function and hold the headrest 18 is the stowedposition, as shown in FIG. 1. It should be appreciated, of course, thatthe latch 26 and the detent 28 may be interchanged, or that the presentinvention may be equipped with two latches or two detents.

[0015] With the headrest 18 in the stowed position, the seatback 16 maybe moved or removed from the vehicle altogether in order to present anincreased available load floor. This may be advantageous, for example,in transporting large or cumbersome objects. Because the headrest is notconnected to the seatback, moreover, the seatback offers a relativelycompact profile to facilitate storage inside or outside of the vehicle.

[0016] It should be appreciated that while the embodiment of theheadrest assembly described herein is preferably manually pivotable, thepresent invention also contemplates that the headrest 18 may betranslated by any powered means such as an electric motor. Furthermore,the brackets 22 may be attached to any support structure such as B- orC-pillars.

[0017] While the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein ispresently considered to be preferred, various changes and modificationscan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appendedclaims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range ofequivalents are intended to be embraced therein.

1. A headrest assembly for a motor vehicle having a seatback and a sidewall, the headrest assembly comprising: a headrest pivotable from afirst position generally proximate the seatback to a second positiongenerally proximate the side wall.
 2. The headrest assembly of claim 1further comprising a support connected to the headrest.
 3. The headrestassembly of claim 2 further comprising a latching bar connected to thesupport.
 4. The headrest assembly of claim 3 wherein the latching bar isadapted to latch the headrest in the second position.
 5. The headrestassembly of claim 2 wherein the support is mounted on a roll bar of themotor vehicle.
 6. The headrest assembly of claim 1 wherein the headrestis pivotable about a generally vertical axis.
 7. The headrest assemblyof claim 1 wherein the headrest is securable in the first and secondpositions.
 8. A headrest assembly for a motor vehicle, the headrestassembly comprising: a headrest pivotable from a first positiongenerally proximate a seatback of the motor vehicle to a second positiongenerally proximate a side wall.
 9. The headrest assembly of claim 8further comprising a support connected to the headrest.
 10. The headrestassembly of claim 9 further comprising a latching bar connected to thesupport.
 11. The headrest assembly of claim 10 wherein the latching baris adapted to latch the headrest in the second position.
 12. Theheadrest assembly of claim 9 wherein the support is mounted on a rollbar of the motor vehicle.
 13. The headrest assembly of claim 8 whereinthe headrest is pivotable about a generally vertical axis.
 14. Theheadrest assembly of claim 8 wherein the headrest is securable in thefirst and second positions.
 15. A headrest assembly for a motor vehiclehaving a roll bar, the headrest assembly comprising: a support extendingfrom the roll bar; and a headrest connected to the support.
 16. Theheadrest assembly of claim 15 wherein the headrest is pivotable from afirst position generally proximate a seatback of the motor vehicle to asecond position generally proximate a side wall.
 17. The headrestassembly of claim 15 further comprising a latching bar connected to thesupport.
 18. The headrest assembly of claim 17 wherein the latching baris adapted to latch the headrest in a secured position.
 19. The headrestassembly of claim 15 wherein the headrest is pivotable about a generallyvertical axis.